UPDATE: Russia threatens to prolong the conflict, children indoctrinated to fight
International Report:
International observers are closely monitoring the latest developments as new information continues to emerge.
Did you miss the latest events on the war in Ukraine? 20 Minutes takes stock for you every evening. Here is the gist of this Thursday, July 9, 2026, on the 1,596th day of the conflict. The fact of the dayA message as a warning. The Kremlin assured this Thursday that the intensification of Ukrainian strikes against Russia will only “prolong” the war. “The more the kyiv regime hits our infrastructure, the more we will have to extend the security zone” on the front, warns the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov. “A new escalation would be able to prolong the special military operation,” he adds, in reference to the offensive led by Russia in Ukraine since February 2022. On Wednesday, Donald Trump estimated that the “escalation” of Ukrainian strikes could “help bring about an end” to the war launched by Russia. The American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, estimated that “the Russians are having more and more difficulty defending their own airspace”. Dmitri Peskov castigated Washington’s “errors of judgment” this Thursday. Furthermore, the Kremlin described as “irresponsible” the commitments made by NATO in favor of Ukraine during its recent summit in Turkey, accusing European states of preparing “for an armed conflict with Russia.” Today’s figure 1.6 million. This is the number of Ukrainian children living under Russian control and exposed to a system of indoctrination and militarization, according to the findings of independent experts commissioned by the OSCE. Presented Thursday as part of the “Moscow mechanism” of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, their report concludes that Russia has set up an institutionalized system to indoctrinate these children. “We believe […] that this system could fall under the crime against humanity of persecution,” said French expert Hervé Ascensio, adding that children and their parents were targeted when they tried to maintain their Ukrainian identity. According to one of the experts, the authorities sent military summons earlier than elsewhere in Russia to young people from the occupied territories. She indicated that several young people interviewed had left the territories “without warning their families” in order to escape conscription. Others were incorporated into the Russian army and then sent to the front in Ukraine. Today’s statement “We are thus closing an important strategic gap in our defense” The words are signed Friedrich Merz. The German Chancellor announced this Thursday that the United States has approved the sale to Germany of Tomahawk intermediate-range cruise missiles and corresponding Typhoon land launchers, despite previously expressed doubts about their planned deployment in the country. “On the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, we agreed with the American government that we would purchase American Tomahawk missiles which will be deployed in Germany,” Friedrich Merz declared to the deputies, without specifying at what date. “The United States has essential capabilities that we cannot do without in Europe,” explained German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The deployment of Tomahawk is considered by Berlin as an important element of deterrence against Russia. The trend The Ukrainian authorities announced Thursday the opening of an investigation into scuffles the day before in Lviv, a large city in western Ukraine, after the enlistment of a young man by soldiers, a process that was a source of tension in the country. The prosecutor general’s office announced the opening of “two criminal proceedings” concerning “the circumstances of an incident that occurred in Lviv involving servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, police officers and around 200 civilians,” according to a statement.
International Perspective:
Officials and international observers are expected to continue monitoring the story closely over the coming days.
International media coverage is expected to intensify as more updates become available from official sources.
More details may emerge as official sources continue releasing new information.
Source: This article was originally published by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.